8 of the best festivals in Belgium for music fans in 2024

Heading to Belgium in 2024 and looking to tap into its festival circuit? Cut straight to the chase with this guide, laying out Belgium's most compelling cultural events alongside a handpicked selection of the nation's standout music festivals for the year.

Cultural festivals in Belgium

Belgium boasts an array of experiences that span the traditional to the contemporary, starting with the indulgence of the Chocolate Festival and the historic pomp of the Carnival of Binche. February’s Bruges Beer Festival then dives into the heart of Belgium’s legendary brewing expertise. Not to be missed, Anima: The Brussels Animation Film Festival, showcases cutting-edge animation that captivates both children and adults alike, adding a modern twist to Belgium's cultural offerings.

As winter approaches, Belgium’s Christmas markets light up the season, transforming cities into winter wonderlands. These markets are not just about shopping; they're a full sensory experience with mulled wine, gourmet treats, and twinkling lights.

Another highlight is the Fêtes de Wallonie, celebrated in September. This festival is a vibrant display of Walloon pride, featuring live music, traditional dances, and regional cuisine. It encapsulates the spirit of the Wallonian region with its warm hospitality and lively festivities.

When it comes to music festivals, Belgium's calendar is equally packed and diverse, making it a key destination for music enthusiasts worldwide. Here's our top picks for music fans in 2024.

Belgium 2024: A Guide for Music Festival Fans

Check out our handpicked selection of Belgium's best music festivals below - and remember, if a ticket isn't available for your favourite yet, make sure to set a ticket alert to be the first to know when a ticket is available.

Horst Arts and Music Festival 2024

May 9 – 11, Asiat Park, Vilvoorde, Belgium

Known for blending music, art, and architecture in a unique setting, Horst emphasizes creativity and innovation. It often takes place in unusual locations, such as castles or industrial sites, and includes art installations and workshops alongside a diverse lineup of electronic music.

The 2024 lineup features collaborations like Aurora Halal & DJ Nobu, genre-defying sets from ANZ and DJ SWISHA, and a rare performance by Skream & Benga. Each day showcases a blend of emerging talents and established artists across various electronic genres, concluding with notable acts like Ben UFO and Swayzak.

Paradise City Festival 2024

June 28 – 30, Kasteelhoekstraat 1, Perk, Belgium

Want a hefty dose of natural beauty with your beats? This festival is not just celebrated for its commitment to sustainability, but also its highly picturesque setting near Brussels. With a focus on electronic music, it aims to be as green as possible, reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging eco-friendly practices among its attendees.

Paradise is known for inviting the world's best electronic artists to join this like-minded community for the weekend, and the 2024 lineup features everything from Bonobo's worldly DJ sets and DJ Koze's unrivaled selections, Anz, Floating Points and Kiasmos (live), Angel D'lite & DJ Sweet6teen, Sofia Kourtesis (live), SBTRKT, Nosedrip and many, many more.

WECANDANCE 2024

August 3 – 11, Strand van Zeebrugge, Bruges, Belgium

WECANDANCE 2024, taking place on Bruges' Strand van Zeebrugge, combines 10-hour beach clubbing sessions with a rich lineup, including $HIRAK, Acid Pauli, Nina Kraviz, and Peggy Gou, showcasing a broad electronic music spectrum. Under the theme "Drop in the Light, Rise in the Dark," it's an immersive beach rave experience that blends day and night into a celebration of freedom, fashion, and dance. Attendees are invited to embrace their "sheer sex appeal, pure self, and authenticity" through a journey of light and dark, amplified by good music, captivating installations and immersive experiences. Count us in.

Alcatraz Open Air Festival 2024

August 8 – 12, Sportcampus Lange Munte, Kortrijk, Belgium

A must-visit for metal fans, Alcatraz caters specifically to the heavy metal and hard rock genres. It's known for its intense lineup of bands, from legendary acts to up-and-comers in the metal scene, offering a headbanging weekend for its devoted attendees.

The 2024 lineup boasts big names like Amon Amarth, Europe, and the Gene Simmons Band, alongside a mix of legends and emerging acts across metal's subgenres. The festival uniquely merges intense performances with a welcoming atmosphere, offering more than music with its engaging installations and communal vibe.

Voodoo Village 2024

September 7 – 8, Kasteel van Humbeek, Grimbergen, Belgium

This festival dives into the mystical and mysterious with a focus on underground electronic music. Set in a thematic environment that channels the occult and the supernatural, it offers an immersive experience with deep house, techno, and electronic sets by a mix of renowned and emerging DJs.

For the 2024 edition, expect hypnotic techno from I Hate Models, with Jamie Jones and Jimi Jules, along with the likes of&ME and Adam Port, Argy, Bora Uzer and more. You'll also catch Dennis Cruz, PAWSA, Marlon Hoffstadt, and Miss Monique, offering further depth and variety in the lineup, and don't miss including rising stars like Indira Paganotto and Parra for Cuva (live).

Hangar Festival 2024

April 27 – 28, Quai De Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium

Techno purists find their home again this late April, at Hangar 2024. The festival is celebrated for its focus on the techno genre, showcasing a mix of influential and emerging techno talents. Set in an industrial atmosphere , it offers a lineup of both established and rising stars in the techno scene.

The lineup this year includes the genre-bending sounds of DJ BORING, plus Chloé Caillet, Denis Sulta, and a visit from the monarch herself, Honey Dijon. HAAi's also swinging by with psychedelic techno, along with KI/KI, Mathame and more. For good techno times, in Hangar we trust.

Extrema Outdoor Belgium 2024

May 17 – 19, Extrema Outdoor, Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium

Extrema Outdoor Belgium, affectionately known as XO, is highly regarded for its stellar lineup of electronic dance music, against the lush backdrop of Houthalen-Helchteren.

Extrema Outdoor combines top international and local DJs, offering a mix of house, techno, and broader electronic music, and this year welcomes Adriatique for melodic adventures in sound, along with powerhouse b2b dreammakers Âme and Dixon, and techno don Amelie Lens herself. Add to this the Anfisa Letyago, Boris Brejcha, CamelPhat and a live performance by Paul Kalkbrenner and more, and you've got an electronic utopia on your hands.

Couleur Café Festival 2024

June 28 – 30, Parc d’Osseghem, Brussels, Belgium

Celebrating cultural diversity, Couleur Café is a festival of world music, offering everything "From Congolese Rumba to Jamaican Traphouse", with pit stops at jazz hip-hop, reggae, soul and many genres between.

Located in Brussels, this city festival is not just about music also featuring global cuisines, workshops, and art. With a history of drawing sizeable crowds, the event is widely recognised for a buzzing atmosphere and eclectic mix of acts.

This year's lineup includes standout performances from global sensations like Masego and Tyla, plus a return of local hip-hop heroes STIKSTOF, indicating a strong curation of both international and Belgian talent.